AN INSIGHT INTO THE BEAUTY OF BUDAPEST
Accessible
Budapest has an extensive infrastructure. The city can easily and rapidly be reached from all European
countries either by road, rail or air. Short flights from all European capitals exist: flight time is less than 3 hours, multiple connections. Budapest is a great walking city with compact little neighborhoods and attractions that can be easily reached on foot. The main sights in Buda are located in and around Castle District and most of the attractions in Pest can be found between the Danube and the Grand Boulevard.
Vibrant
Divided in two by the mighty Danube River, Budapest is a city with two faces. Buda, on the west bank of the Danube, and Pest, on the east, were two competing cities until two became one in 1873, around the time that many of Budapest’s most flamboyant art nouveau buildings were constructed. Extravagant architecture is just one of the things luring visitors to modern Budapest. Many come for the pulsing nightlife, superior dining and the chance for a dip in the city’s famous thermal springs, which have been soothing the aches and pains of Eastern Europe since Roman times.
Unique
Based on the price-value conditions Hungary is still one of the most reasonable destinations in Europe. Budapest is the finest of European traditions with competive pricing, high quality accommodation facilities, unique venues and has long been proven the expertise of Hungarian professionals.
HERITAGE
Danube panorama and Castle district
he UNESCO World Heritage Committee has listed the view of the Danube embankments and the Buda Castle District – which is one of the most beautiful and romantic parts of the city of Budapest – as a World Heritage site on the 11th of December, 1987. The latter is a medieval town district, giving home to some of the most important historical monuments in Hungary. While nearly 800 years passed since it has been originally founded, its beauty still stands unparalelled, despite earthquakes, fires, sieges and world wars. The buildings themselves in Budapest bear tell-tale signs of recent and ancient history.
Both the Pest and Buda embankments of the Danube streching from the Liberty Bridge all the way up to the Margaret Bridge, the area encompassed by the Chain Bridge and some of the buildings belonging to the Technical University, the Gellért Bath, the Gellért Hill with the Statue of Liberty and the Citadel, the Castle of Buda, the Baroque churches and Turkish baths of the so-called Water Town – these are all parts of the World Heritage today.
WONDERS
UNESCO – Places you should see
Hungary currently has eight places on the Heritage List, including its capital Budapest. It is hoped that in the future other sites will also be added. While you’re in Budapest you will no doubt see many of these sites, but it’s worth taking a fresh look through the prism of the World Heritage List and consider their special historical and cultural significance.
- Banks of the Danube
- Buda Castle Quarter
- Andrássy Avenue
- Lechner’s works to be added to World Heritage List
If you have the chance to travel around Hungary, there are seven other cultural and natural sites featuring on the World Heritage List. These are: the old village of Hollókő and its surrounds; the caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst; the Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma and its natural environment; Hortobágy National Park; the Early Christian Necropolist of Pécs; Fertö/Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape; and the Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape.
HUNGARY FACTS
Population: 9.9 Million
Population Density (per sq km): 107
Capital: Budapest
Language: Hungarian (Magyar) is the official language. English is widely spoken, German is also by the older generation.
Currency: Hungarian Forint (HUF; symbol Ft), cca 400 HUF = 1 EUR. Many hotels, restaurants and shops accept Euros. All major credit cards are accepted.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. European-style two-pin plugs are used.
General business opening hours: Mon-Fri 08:00-16:30
TIME: CET (GMT +1), summer time: CET +1 (GMT +2).
The climate of Hungary is typical European continental influenced climate with warm, dry summers and fairly cold winters. January is the coldest month with daytime temperatures usually around zero. In summer daytime temperatures reach 20-25°C, sometimes quite higher, 30°C or more. The weather is best May-September, when days are warm and the nights are cool, although it rains more in spring than in summer.
VISA AND IMMIGRATION CONTROL
Hungary joined the Schengen Area on 21 December, 2007. From that time visas and residence permits issued by one of the Schengen Member States are valid also for Hungary, and visas/residence permits issued by Hungarian authorities are – as a general rule – also valid for the entire Schengen Area. As of December 19th 2011, 26 states are part of the Schengen Area: 22 states of the 27 members of the European Union (Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden) as well as Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. (For the time being 5 member states of the European Union, i.e. Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania do not issue Schengen visas.)
For more information, visit http://konzuliszolgalat.kormany.hu/how-to-apply-for-visa
WHY HUNGARY?
Hungary is a safe destination with a politically and economically stable environment.
- Rich cultural and historical heritage with numerous UNESCO listed sites.
- Ideal location with easy access – situated in the center of Europe.
- Events in Budapest can promote a higher attendance including greater attendance from Eastern European countries.
- Budapest is voted as 8th by European Best Destinations in 2018.
- High quality at competitive prices due to the nation’s economy within Europe, providing great value for money.
GETTING TO Budapest
By plane
Liszt Ferenc International Airport is 22 km South-East of the city centre. It is directly connected with all European capitals; flight time is less than 3 hours. Airport Terminal 2 is divided between Terminal 2A and Terminal 2B hosting all traditional carriers’ flights, charter flights and low-cost airlines.
Airlines operating flights to Budapest
By car
All Hungary’s motorways and most of the main roads radiate from the capital. You have to pre-pay to use motorways in the country (M1, M3, M5, M6 and M7) or certain roads within a county. Both types of license plate-based vignette can be bought at larger filling stations. Road signs conform to continental standards. Local traffic rules are based on the Vienna and Geneva Conventions, like those of other European countries. Budapest can be reached by car on motorways M1, M3, M5 and M7. Drivers should be aware that there is a zero tolerance of blood alcohol level while driving in Hungary. 24-hour emergency roadside assistance is available. (www.motorway.hu)
By coach
International services terminate and depart from Népliget Coach Station, which is also the terminal for a number of domestic routes. (www.volanbusz.hu)
By rail
More than 30 trains a day provide direct links between Budapest and no fewer than 25 other European cities. Railjets to Vienna run every 1-2 hours. There is also a popular network of intercity trains linking Budapest with the main Hungarian cities. International trains operate from the three largest stations. Keleti (Eastern), Nyugati (Western), Déli (Southern), located in the city centre and within easy reach of the hotels either by public transport or by taxi.
By boat
A hydrofoil service operates during the summer months (May-October) linking the heart of Budapest with Vienna and Bratislava. International boat landing stages are situated on the Danube between the Chain Bridge and the Liberty Bridge (www.mahartpassnave.hu).
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Budapest has one of the most comprehensive public transport system among the capitals of Europe. The network of the Centre for Budapest Transport (BKK) consists of: 4 underground lines, 5 suburban railway lines, 15 trolley bus lines, 32 tram lines, 268 bus lines. The public transport network also includes cogwheel and commuter train, funicular, boat and chairlift service. Compared to Budapest’s population of 1.73 million, the utilization rate of the public transport network is fairly high, with 4.8 million passengers using the services every day. Daytime services are available between 4.30 am and 11.30 pm, while at night you can get around with night buses or Tram No. 6, which runs round the clock. Tickets must be purchased in advance at metro stations, ticket vending machines (TVMs) and also at BKK Customer Service Centres and Ticket Offices. EU citizens over 65 years are allowed to travel for free on the vehicles of the public transport.